Sir) Ras Behari Ghosh in 1908, for example, promoted amending Bills, but none of them became law. More recently in 1911, a private Bill was introduced in Bombay Legislative Council by the Hon'ble Sir Ibrahim Rahimtoola, to provide for the registration of all charitable trusts, exceeding a certain value and for the annual audit of the accounts for such trusts by auditors approved by Government. Endowments of a purely religious nature were not included but the contents of he Bill made it clear that the ultimate object was to press for legislation for religious as well as secular trusts. About the same time a private Bill was promoted by two non-official members of the Madras Legislative Council to provide for the regular publication of the accounts of all religious endowments above a certain value and for their audit by an officer to be appointed by the District Judge. These proposals led the Government of India to reconsider the policy in force since 1863. In March 1914, the whole subject was discussed at a mixed conference of official and non-official gentlemen representing the Hindu, Muhammadan, Sikh and Buddhist communities. The present Bill, which is the outcome of the deliberations of that conference, has as its objects the simplification and cheapening of the legal processes by which persons interested can obtain information regarding the working of both religious and charitable trusts, and the exercise of a more efficient control over the action of trustees. The Bill provides that any person interested in a trust may apply by petition to the District Judge for an order directing the trustee to furnish him with information as to the nature and objects of the trust and of the value, condition, management and application of the subject matter of the trust, and of the income belonging thereto, or as to any of these matters, and also directing that the accounts of the trust shall be examined and audited. Failure to comply with such an order of the Court would be deemed a breach of trust. In order, however, that such applications should not lead to protracted and contentious litigation, the Court is debarred from trying any question of title between the petitioner and any person claiming title to the trust, or any question as to the existence or extent of any trust. Under the Bill, it will be left to those interested to move in the matter; the initiative will not rest with Government, nor will anything be done where no one is sufficiently interested to take action. Where the Court is moved the
